Minimum wage in Colorado
Colorado's basic minimum wage is $15.16 an hour. That is $7.91 above the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Employers may pay tipped employees a cash wage of $12.14 and count tips toward the rest, with a tip credit of up to $3.02. Against Colorado's $15.16 floor for FLSA-covered employers, among its 7 neighbors Arizona ($15.15), Nebraska ($15.00), New Mexico ($12.00), Kansas ($7.25), Oklahoma ($7.25), Utah ($7.25) and Wyoming ($7.25 floor; state rate $5.15) are lower.
Verified against the U.S. Department of Labor on (DOL's state table updated ). Source: State Minimum Wage Laws, Minimum Wages for Tipped Employees.
At a glance
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| State minimum wage | $15.16 |
| Against the federal $7.25 | $7.91 above federal |
| Floor for FLSA-covered employers | $15.16 (the higher of the state and federal rates) |
| Scheduled change | None listed by DOL |
| Overtime threshold in state law | Daily - 12, Weekly - 40 |
| Tipped cash wage | $12.14 |
| Maximum tip credit | $3.02 |
Rates as DOL lists them
| Rate per hour | Applies to |
|---|---|
| $15.16 | No condition stated by DOL |
Premium pay after designated hours: Daily - 12, Weekly - 40. DOL footnote 1: The overtime premium rate is one and one-half times the employee's regular rate, unless otherwise specified.
Scheduled increases
DOL lists no scheduled increase and no indexing formula for Colorado. A change would require new legislation or a ballot measure.
Tipped employees
Colorado requires a cash wage above the federal tipped minimum of $2.13; the employer may count tips toward the rest, up to the tip credit shown.
| Row | Combined cash and tip minimum | Maximum tip credit | Minimum cash wage | Tipped employee defined by monthly tips of |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $15.16 | $3.02 | $12.14 | More than $30 |
A dash means DOL left the cell blank. DOL's general footnote 1: Other additional deductions are permitted, for example for meals and lodging.
What DOL also notes
- Minimum wage rate and overtime provisions applicable to retail and service, commercial support service, food and beverage, and health and medical industries.
Neighbors and the federal floor
| State | State rate | Floor for FLSA-covered employers |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | $15.16 | $15.16 |
| Arizona | $15.15 | $15.15 |
| Nebraska | $15.00 | $15.00 |
| New Mexico | $12.00 | $12.00 |
| Kansas | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Oklahoma | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Utah | $7.25 | $7.25 |
| Wyoming | $5.15 | $7.25 |
| Federal (FLSA) | $7.25 | $7.25 |
More than one law can apply
DOL states that where federal, state and local minimum wage laws all cover an employer, the employer must pay the highest applicable rate. Whether a particular job is covered by the Fair Labor Standards Act, by Colorado's law, or by a city or county ordinance depends on facts this site does not assess. City and county rates are not in DOL's table and are not shown here. This page describes published rates and is not legal advice; for how to raise an underpayment, see FastGuide.
Take-home pay and benefits calculators for Colorado
FastCalc, a sister site, has these calculators for Colorado. Each takes your own figures; this site computes nothing.
Related
- Colorado wage profile: what occupations actually pay in Colorado, from BLS data.
- Minimum wage by state and the federal minimum wage.
- Federal versus state minimum wage and tipped wages and tip credits.
- Take-home pay calculator on FastCalc for what $15.16 an hour leaves after withholding; this site computes nothing.